tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319476040595006432018-08-20T01:50:30.198-07:00Gerry DantoneObservations on society, religion, music, and sports, all with a humanistic philosophical perspective.Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-89210573378438155362017-12-22T14:16:00.000-08:002017-12-22T14:16:49.371-08:00The real cost of the Tax Cut for the Wealthy<div class="MsoNormal">What is the real cost of this ts bill for each American?&nbsp; What will they get for their temporary tax reduction, if indeed they get them?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The NY Times tax bill calculator below does not ask for your real estate taxes or state of residence which could make a significant difference,so results will vary. New Yorkers would usually do worse because of state and local taxes not being fully deductible in some cases.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So with the tax calculator you can get a rough idea of how you will do.&nbsp; But how much more of the National Debt will each person owe?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The average American's portion of the increased debt from this bill individually is about $4300, and it's $8600 for a couple and $17,200 as the share of the increased debt for a family of 4. <i>(The Increased Debt = $1,500,000,000,000 divided by 350,000,000 Americans to get $4300 each person.) </i>This is your share of the debt individually you've incurred for the extra $25 a week you will receive from the tax cut if you are married with 2 kids and make between $25,000 and $75,000 per year. The exact details on your status will make a difference.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But this does not count the<i> decrease</i> in government services that you would have had access to that you will not have access to in the future that is sure to follow. If they cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid by $1,000,000,000,000 your total new debt plus LOSS OF FUTURE SERVICES would be about $7,100 individually or $28,400 for a family of 4.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Yet even this total does not count the increase in premiums from higher health care insurance costs which this tax bill would cause. If that is also $1,000,000,000,000 you are now in the hole for $10,000,000 or $40,000 for a family of 4! This is what you'd get for the extra $25/week based on my assumptions.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But here is the final straw; if you are priced out of the health insurance market due to premiums being too high and you get ill - your loss can be almost any amount - leading to bankruptcy. And if Obamacare is gutted to the point where pre-existing conditions are cause to be denied coverage, you could be <i><b>dead.</b></i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Now of course the above math goes for the wealthy as well - but what is $10,000 in total to a rich person or $40,000 to a rich family when they may see $100,000 or much more in lower taxes every year, not to mention the decrease in the Estate Taxes for their heirs or the <i>PERMANENT&nbsp; tax cuts for corporations owned primarily by the wealthy</i>? And that is why this tax cut is for the wealthy.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/17/upshot/tax-calculator.html?smid=fb-share">https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/17/upshot/tax-calculator.html?smid=fb-share</a></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-45398627534222819862017-12-22T14:03:00.000-08:002017-12-22T14:03:43.752-08:00The Coalition of DecencyThere are two separate aspects to the tribalism now engulfing the U.S. One tribalism involves a moral chasm and the other is a dogmatic economic chasm.<br /><br />The dogmatic economic chasm is the difference in economic and political governance between the extreme right and moderate left/center; an example is the extreme right wing idea that a tax cut for the wealthy is good for the country vs. the moderate left/center idea that income inequality is really at the root of slowing economic growth in the U.S. It is my opinion that the extreme right wing position is delusional and that the problem of income inequality is objectively obvious. Please note that I have not mentioned policies that could address this problem but instead only identified what I think the underlying problem.<br /><br />The second aspect of U.S. tribalism in a sense is more important in my opinion; people of good will could be in error on economic policy - it is not an exact science. A person of good will can be excused for getting the economics wrong.&nbsp; The second, more important aspect is a question of&nbsp; moral values.&nbsp; Simply put, the extreme right has a thread of racism/intolerance/sexism/greed running through it. Those "right wingers" not in that camp reject these "values" can include otherwise economic dogmatic right wingers, such as Jeff Flake or John McCain or George Will, etc.&nbsp; They can be "forgiven" for their "errors" and be bargained with, one could hope.&nbsp; They are not loathsome.&nbsp; I would say they are simply wrong in their economic opinions.<br /><br />However, here are the moral issues that a large segment of the extreme right and the President's supporters accept, embrace and promote:<br /><br />Racism (birtherism, anti-immigrant sentiment, White Nationalism and Supremacy, etc.)<br />Intolerance (Islamophobia, Christian fundamentalism and privilege, homophobia, anti-transgender bathroom bills, etc.)<br />Sexism (acceptance of sexual assault, pedophilia, male chauvinism, etc.)<br />Greed (cutting taxes for the wealthy and rich corporations while not funding CHIP, and threatening to end Obamacare with no replacement, cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security to pay for the tax cuts for the wealthy)<br /><br />These last items are MORAL issues; they are about right and wrong in the sense of harming or helping actual people directly. A morality that is divorced from actual harm or well being of persons is a useless morality even if it is claimed it is the supposed "word of god." Acceptance of obvious harm to many others in the name of a dogmatic belief (such as religion, tradition, dogma or "free markets") is USELESS.<br /><br />And here is the embodiment of the moral rot that is at the core of the tribalism in the U.S.: former senatorial candidate Roy Moore, supported and endorsed by the Republican Party and the President as well. He stands for every immoral position listed above and he was the candidate of the extreme right, the Republican party and the President. I can forgive economic wrong-headedness, but the immorality of Roy Moore and those who supported him is unforgivable and cannot be reconciled with people of good will.&nbsp; This tribe of moral indecency MUST be opposed.<br /><br />This leaves us to ponder our options for the future; we must consider working with all those who support moral decency even if their economic policies are not ideal or are even what we consider "wrong."&nbsp; We must now have a "Coalition of Decency" and work of people of good will with opposing views on non-moral issues.&nbsp; We cannot afford to lose otherwise.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/21/1726731/-Roy-Moore-s-Homophobic-Attack-On-Doug-Jones-Gay-Son-Spectacularly-Blows-Up-In-His-Face">https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/21/1726731/-Roy-Moore-s-Homophobic-Attack-On-Doug-Jones-Gay-Son-Spectacularly-Blows-Up-In-His-Face</a></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-53963013393089294512017-12-22T13:36:00.001-08:002017-12-22T13:36:44.739-08:00Trickle Down?<div class="MsoNormal">The origin of "trickle down" economics apparently was a joke by Will Rogers many years ago. But nothing is too crazy that a lot of people won't believe it anyway.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bottom line: if you want economic growth, more money to the wealthy is NOT the answer - they tend to hoard their money and spend less of their earnings than the non-wealthy. Instead, more money and net income to lower income persons who spend most of their income will increase demand for goods and motivate businesses to expand. Duh!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This article is from 2015 and is not an anti-Trump reaction article.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://psmag.com/economics/trickle-down-economics-is-indeed-a-joke">https://psmag.com/economics/trickle-down-economics-is-indeed-a-joke</a></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-83390249396484412962017-12-22T13:32:00.003-08:002017-12-22T13:32:58.889-08:00Is it Objective to be Disgusted?The "anti-Trump" texts sent between FBI agents were released in December 2017 to lawmakers and the shocking thing about them is that THEY ARE NOT SHOCKING AT ALL!<br /><br />They are certainly less shocking than the chants of "lock her up" encouraged by the so-called President's former NSA director. They are less shocking than a million things said by congresspersons who were supposed to "objectively" investigate the Benghazi nothingburger or the Clinton email server nothingburger. They investigated and found nothing - but they sure said a lot!<br /><br />The "anti-Trump" texts are actually indicative of what an OBJECTIVE PERSON would feel about a person running for the highest office in the country or in the highest office in the country who was a) a lying racist birther b) a lying candidate who spread vicious lies about his competitors (such as Lying Ted Cruz's father helped assassinate JFK b) was bigoted against Muslims as per his proposed Muslim ban d) bragged about groping and sexually assaulting women and invading the privacy of teenage beauty contest contestants e) insults and provokes a fellow loathsome idiot with nuclear weapons named Kim Jong Un, f) lies all the time and g) other items too numerous to mention. None of this is in dispute.<br /><br />Yes, objectively, the so-called President IS loathsome; objectively he IS an idiot; objectively his presidency IS terrifying. Anyone who does not see this is NOT objective or fair.<br /><br />And remember, those who disagree are persons we know to be NOT objective. "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters," Trump said. THOSE voters are NOT objective ACCORDING TO HIM.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/23/politics/donald-trump-shoot-somebody-support/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/23/politics/donald-trump-shoot-somebody-support/index.html</a><br /><br />Any FBI agent who does NOT see the so-called President as loathsome or an idiot or terrifying is oblivious. He or she should not be an FBI agent.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/12/politics/peter-strzok-texts-released/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/12/politics/peter-strzok-texts-released/index.html&nbsp;</a>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-51288326218161567282017-10-21T18:16:00.000-07:002017-10-21T18:16:18.167-07:00The "grown-up" has left the room<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The so-called President's Chief of Staff, General John Kelly is not what we have been told he is. We have been told he is the "grown-up" in the room and that he stood between the so-called President and chaos. He is not the "gown-up" in the room. He has become just another alternative fact machine that works in the White House.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 4.5pt 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The so-called President began this episode when he was asked about the incident in Niger that led to the death of 4 U.S. soldiers. He failed to explain the incident and instead chose to attack previous presidents who, he claimed, failed to call the families of fallen soldiers, while he claimed to have called "virtually" all the families, an issue he was NOT asked about. The so-called President's claim about the other presidents was a lie and so was his claim about his calling the families himself. This lying is something we have come to expect of this so-called President as is his immediate politicization of an important issue while at the same time accusing his critics of the politicization!<br /><a data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;-U&quot;}" data-lynx-mode="async" href="http://time.com/4984507/donald-trump-mitch-mcconnell-rose-garden-press-conference/" style="cursor: pointer;">http://time.com/4984507/donald-trump-mitch-mcconnell-rose-garden-press-conference/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 4.5pt 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">To bolster his false claim, he told the press to ask General John Kelly whether Obama ever called after his son had died in Afghanistan. It turns out the General Kelly had attended a breakfast or two for Gold Star families with the Obamas, though technically they may not have spoken on the phone.&nbsp;<a data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;-U&quot;}" data-lynx-mode="async" href="https://www.salon.com/2017/10/17/that-time-john-kelly-dined-with-obama-though-white-house-said-he-didnt-call/" style="cursor: pointer;">https://www.salon.com/2017/10/17/that-time-john-kelly-dined-with-obama-though-white-house-said-he-didnt-call/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 4.5pt 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Furthermore, since the so-called President had not called the families of the 4 recently fallen soldiers (and probably others previously) he rushed to do so soon after his false&nbsp; claims.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;-U&quot;}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanityfair.com%2Fnews%2F2017%2F10%2Ftrump-fallen-soldiers-white-house&amp;h=ATOlDne1qLqDYWCbjdN_BHOQf0GZ5hacCX4f45KXu0AxBbSJlFFEswJ__YPnbaM0FP68lDpxjQSURuUAT4aljbNfEipjy1GsB-ezLnQmYTuFT1NB-teYobBv8iuhaO15DDieejCJf4iMxz7WafxFV3ziAhr1BjBhg4cvAtoPcgloBnGg8m5oLn277XU9JRE8clBu_R-uCMrWARMvgeNc3HukQzx25G14Uoex02R6NRyxF4x3idBwgReCp_miyfKmnoDkJ-6movEszqH3dydazCqHBl6uNzzAxiQ" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/trump-fallen-soldiers-white-house" style="cursor: pointer;">https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/trump-fallen-soldiers-white-house</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Apparently the call by the so-called President to the family was not well received and present to hear the call (as they were on their way in a car to pick up his body) was Rep. Wilson, a former mentor and long time family friend to the fallen solider, La David Johnson. When Rep. Wilson retold the account of the call, the White House attacked.&nbsp;<a data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;-U&quot;}" data-lynx-mode="async" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/10/18/totally-fabricated-trump-disputes-congresswomans-depiction-of-his-exchange-with-soldiers-widow/?utm_term=.e75d75d700ae" style="cursor: pointer;">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/10/18/totally-fabricated-trump-disputes-congresswomans-depiction-of-his-exchange-with-soldiers-widow/?utm_term=.e75d75d700ae</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The so-called President sent General Kelly the next day to a press conference to do his dirty work where, to deflect from the fact that he basically was confirming Rep. Wilson's version of the call, he retold the story of Rep. Wilson behaving poorly at a building dedication years before where she took credit for the funding of the building:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 4.5pt 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">"“A congresswoman stood up, and in a long tradition of empty barrels making the most noise, stood up there in all of that and talked about how she was instrumental in getting the funding for that building, and how she took care of her constituents because she got the money, and she just called up President Obama, and on that phone call, he gave the money – the $20 million – to build the building, and she sat down, and we were stunned,” Kelly said during his extraordinary press conference.<br /><a data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;-U&quot;}" data-lynx-mode="async" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rep-frederica-wilson-calls-chief-staff-john-kelly-liar-article-1.3576513" style="cursor: pointer;">http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rep-frederica-wilson-calls-chief-staff-john-kelly-liar-article-1.3576513</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 4.5pt 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">All of the above retelling was UNTRUE. Please take note that General Kelly mentioned that she "stood up there" presumably to make her speech and "she sat down and we were stunned" when she ended her speech. Please note on the actual video of the actual event, she never mentioned the $20million, and that she received a STANDING OVATION after her very appropriate and professional speech in which she was magnanimous to the FBI, Republican Rep. John Boehner and Republican Senator Marco Rubio.&nbsp; </span>&nbsp;<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-reg-wilson-kelly-tape-of-speech-20171020-story.html">http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-reg-wilson-kelly-tape-of-speech-20171020-story.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 4.5pt 0in;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">General Kelly either lied or mis-remembered. No matter what, he was wrong. Here is how we now know he is not the "adult in the room." The next day, the White House re-doubled their attack on Rep. Wilson. No apologies. They simply claimed her grandstanding was not on tape even though what General Kelly described, "her standing up and sitting down," was precisely what the tape contained. Who are you going to believe - the so-called President and his Chief of Staff, or your lying eyes?&nbsp;<a data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;-U&quot;}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdeadline.com%2F2017%2F10%2Fdonald-trump-john-kelly-frederica-wilson-empty-barrel-niger-ambush-widow-la-david-johnson-1202192132%2F&amp;h=ATOa_C94gZkXh98ZylrAZ1-UpXyxi2LqXGzhQxwmJj32wCrir329NGUHjitWDha-NF6n96URnWS4mru5N9D37S83lL9EVEjr3Kvx5g0DFHgCZiGABAhJJ02CY2H5r_zZ0XAfJeP6tVflU7PtW_3gi4RGUUS4nsuBYotnsKHzklICuGdpQZFzvjFKBDu58SPbMWhyiSX3oGLZQYVN213rzc-JMNpIOs8ez9yqMhuIAOXKEX-tIThTTnLupEpFXIBjxmZ7a4i5mKAJ2ZDoQOfxinPXxNNRj8k7fos" href="http://deadline.com/2017/10/donald-trump-john-kelly-frederica-wilson-empty-barrel-niger-ambush-widow-la-david-johnson-1202192132/" style="cursor: pointer;">http://deadline.com/2017/10/donald-trump-john-kelly-frederica-wilson-empty-barrel-niger-ambush-widow-la-david-johnson-1202192132/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Just what you should now expect from the Chief of Staff of the so-called President.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-49025937895873331192017-10-20T20:23:00.001-07:002017-10-20T20:23:29.850-07:00Graceless so-called President<div class="MsoNormal">The so-called President claims President Obama did not call the families of fallen soldiers and implied that he did not call Gen. John Kelly when his son was killed in Afghanistan.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>A few things about this:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">First, no one had asked the so-called President whether HE had called the families of fallen soldiers. HE instigated this politicization of this issue ALL BY HIMSELF when he failed to answer a question about what had happened in Niger and instead chose to falsely bash previous previous presidents for not calling such families. ( <a href="http://time.com/4984507/donald-trump-mitch-mcconnell-rose-garden-press-conference/">http://time.com/4984507/donald-trump-mitch-mcconnell-rose-garden-press-conference/</a>)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Second, Gen. Kelly did not ask that the so-called President publicize the fact that Obama did not call him after his son's death. ( <a href="https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/10/19/white-house-john-kelly-disgusted-by-the-way-his-sons-death-has-been-politicized/23248345/">https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/10/19/white-house-john-kelly-disgusted-by-the-way-his-sons-death-has-been-politicized/23248345/</a>)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Third, President Obama, may not have directly called Gen. Kelly, "but a person familiar with the breakfast for Gold Star Families at the White House on May 30, 2011, told NBC News that<b> Kelly and his wife attended the private event and were seated at first lady Michelle Obama’s table.</b>" (NBC News, below)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">OK, maybe they did not speak on the phone but they did have breakfast at an event specifically for the families of fallen soldiers. Gen. Kelly sat at Michelle Obama's table. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">( <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/30/obama.memorial.day/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/30/obama.memorial.day/index.html</a>)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Oh...<o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-49827409658180925272017-10-20T20:21:00.000-07:002017-10-20T20:21:37.143-07:00Niger and the unfit so-called President<div class="MsoNormal">*The so-called President was asked, in a press conference, about the deaths of 4 soldiers in Niger a few weeks ago. The question was asked because most Americans did not know that U.S. soldiers were in harm's way in Niger.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here is the actual ENTIRE question: <i>"Why haven't we heard anything from you so far about the soldiers that were killed in Niger? What do you have o say about (OFF-MIKE)?"</i>&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://time.com/4984507/donald-trump-mitch-mcconnell-rose-garden-press-conference/">http://time.com/4984507/donald-trump-mitch-mcconnell-rose-garden-press-conference/</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">PLEASE NOTE that the question <b>did not include any query about whether he had called the families. &nbsp;</b>In fact, he did not answer the actual question which was a question about the situation that led to the deaths of the soldiers or the situation in Niger itself with which most Americans were not aware of.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But now look at part of the so-called President's answer which he volunteered without being asked: <i>"...if you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn't make calls. A lot of them didn't make calls. I like to call when it's appropriate, when I think I am able to do it."</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">It was the so-called President who IMMEDIATELY politicized the situation. No one had asked about whether he had called the families but he got defensive anyway. This defensive reaction is a part of his unfitness.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But it gets worse. He does finally eventually call the wife of one of the fallen soldiers, LaDavid Johnson's wife, Myeshia Manual<i>. "In the call, Trump told her, “He must have known what he signed up for,”</i> according to an account of Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), who was riding in a limousine with the soldier’s family when the president called and heard the conversation on speakerphone. Wilson said Trump’s comments made the young woman cry...When she actually hung up the phone, she looked at me and said, <i>‘He didn’t even know his name.’ That’s the worst part,”</i> Wilson said Wednesday on CNN’s “New Day...”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">OK, anyone can have a tough day, and perhaps the so-called President had North Korea on his mind. But wait! There's more! He needs to put his signature on this story - BY LYING!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">From WAPO<i>: "Trump pushed back in an early-morning tweet Wednesday, saying Wilson “totally fabricated” her account of the phone call — and that he has proof... I didn’t say what that congresswoman said; didn’t say it all. She knows it,”</i> Trump said when asked about the exchange by a reporter.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">"(Rep.) Wilson, who met Johnson while running a mentoring program for black youths in Miami, stood by her statement, saying she was not the only person who heard the call. In a Facebook message to The Washington Post, Cowanda Jones-Johnson (the mother of the fallen solider) said that she, too, was in the limousine, and that (Rep.) Wilson’s account of the conversation was accurate.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i>President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband,” Jones-Johnson said."</i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Though he ignored the death of the 4 soldiers in Niger for days and days, saying nothing, when he was finally asked about it he chose, instead to bash President Obama; and then lie about what he said when he finally did call the family of one of the soldiers. But this does not stop the hypocrite-in-chief and his supporters from bashing football players who protest racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. Some patriot!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">The so-called President is unfit for the office of President of the United States.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.stripes.com/news/us/fallen-sgt-la-david-johnson-caught-in-trump-call-controversy-was-a-family-oriented-soldier-1.493193#.WegBZHJh6Y0.facebook">https://www.stripes.com/news/us/fallen-sgt-la-david-johnson-caught-in-trump-call-controversy-was-a-family-oriented-soldier-1.493193#.WegBZHJh6Y0.facebook</a></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-23536737370420718232017-10-20T20:12:00.000-07:002017-10-20T20:12:10.675-07:00The so-called President attends hate group summit<div class="MsoNormal">The so-called President spoke to a "Voter Summit" organized by a "hate group" (according to the by the Southern Poverty Law Center) the Family Research Council (<a href="https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/family-research-council">https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/family-research-council</a>) and distributed at the summit was a flier from another designated hate group - Mass Resistance <a href="https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/anti-lgbt">https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/anti-lgbt</a>. ) So the so-called President is now hanging out in person with "hate groups" rather than apologizing for them from afar.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This is what he told those at the "Voter Summit" according to NPR: "President Trump spoke to one of the most faithful blocs of his base on Friday, telling attendees of this year's Values Voter Summit that in America "we don't worship government, we worship God." <a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/10/13/557459193/trump-set-to-address-values-voter-summit-for-first-time-as-president">http://www.npr.org/2017/10/13/557459193/trump-set-to-address-values-voter-summit-for-first-time-as-president</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Actually, we only worship a god or gods IF WE WANT TO. Idiot.<o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-32358823267643890372017-10-20T20:08:00.000-07:002017-10-20T20:08:06.568-07:00Who says the so-called President is unfit?<div class="MsoNormal">Those damn liberals! They are spreading the fake news that the President is unfit for the office!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Oh wait!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These are <b>Republicans</b> saying this! Is there some sort of pattern here? Is this "fake news?" Or is there some reason why even people in his own party and nearly everyone outside of his party believe the so-called President is unfit for the office?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Such as:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen. Bob Corker: <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bob-corker-just-confirmed-it-republicans-know-trump-is-unfit-a7991901.html">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bob-corker-just-confirmed-it-republicans-know-trump-is-unfit-a7991901.html</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Former Sen. Gordon Humphrey: <a href="http://theweek.com/speedreads/717490/former-gop-senator-says-trump-seriously-sick-unfit-president">http://theweek.com/speedreads/717490/former-gop-senator-says-trump-seriously-sick-unfit-president</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Strategist Anna Navarro: <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/346516-gop-strategist-trump-is-unfit-to-be-a-human">http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/346516-gop-strategist-trump-is-unfit-to-be-a-human</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Former Sen. John Danforth: <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/trump-republican-party-john-danforth-655154">http://www.newsweek.com/trump-republican-party-john-danforth-655154</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen. Susan Collins: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-gop-senator-says-i-m-worried-about-1501010277-htmlstory.html">http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-gop-senator-says-i-m-worried-about-1501010277-htmlstory.html</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen. Jeff Flake, Rep. Justin Amash, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Rep. Bradley Byrne, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Rep. Barbara Comstock, Sen. Mike Crapo, Rep. Charlie Dent, Businesswoman Carly Fiorina, Sen. Deb Fischer, Gov. Bill Haslam, Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Former New York governor George Pataki, Sen. Rob Portman, Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, Gov. Brian Sandoval, Sen. Ben Sasse, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/10/08/donald-trump-debate-mike-crapo-mike-lee-barbara-comstock/91784714/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/10/08/donald-trump-debate-mike-crapo-mike-lee-barbara-comstock/91784714/</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen. John McCain: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-arizona-sen-john-mccain-revokes-trump-1475961057-htmlstory.html">http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-arizona-sen-john-mccain-revokes-trump-1475961057-htmlstory.html</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Rep. Peter King: <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/rep-peter-king-says-donald-trump-not-fit-to-be-president-1.11478647">https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/rep-peter-king-says-donald-trump-not-fit-to-be-president-1.11478647</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sec’y of State, Rex Tillerson: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/%E2%80%A6/polit%E2%80%A6/tillerson-trump-moron/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/…/polit…/tillerson-trump-moron/index.html</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen. Ben Sasse: <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ben-sasse-gop-senator-leads-nevertrump-movement">http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ben-sasse-gop-senator-leads-nevertrump-movement</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Too many to list: <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/donald-trump-widely-condemned-republican-leaders-legislators-n662446">https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/donald-trump-widely-condemned-republican-leaders-legislators-n662446</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen. Lindsey Graham: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKLO4lXYaGI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKLO4lXYaGI</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen. Marco Rubio: <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/rubio-i-still-believe-trump-cant-be-trusted-with-americas-nuclear-weapons-codes/article/2002759">http://www.weeklystandard.com/rubio-i-still-believe-trump-cant-be-trusted-with-americas-nuclear-weapons-codes/article/2002759</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen. Ted Cruz: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/24/ted-cruz-donald-trump-president-endorsement">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/24/ted-cruz-donald-trump-president-endorsement</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Former Gov. Mitt Romney: <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/mitt-romney-says-phony-trump-not-fit-for-presidency/">https://www.timesofisrael.com/mitt-romney-says-phony-trump-not-fit-for-presidency/</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-58573555096726673362017-10-20T19:55:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:55:17.552-07:00Kellyanne Conway should be quiet<div class="MsoNormal">Kellyanne Conway tweeted today "“It took Hillary abt 5 minutes to blame NRA for madman’s rampage, but 5 days to sorta-kinda blame Harvey Weinstein 4 his sexually assaults.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Hillary therefore beats Ms. Conway's record for assigning blame to a sexual assaulter by about 1 year.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">"After the (Access Hollywood) tape leaked, Conway supported Trump’s excuse that this was just locker room talk and said Trump has always been “gracious and a gentleman... After millions of women marched to protest Trump’s inauguration last month, Conway told ABC News that she “didn’t see the point.”" (Huff Post)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Here is the scoring update: Hillary Clinton, no longer in office or working for the government, condemns Weinstein, a former donor, in 5 days; Kellyanne Conway, 1 year after the Hollywood Video came out is still an adviser to her friend, the so-called President who bragged about sexually assaulting women and who has had a dozen women confirm the assaults. &nbsp;She just called the tape "locker room talk" and obviously is ignoring the actual claims of assault.&nbsp; Yeah, but Hillary…<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_331623374"><br /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kellyanne-conway-sexual-harassment_us_58920004e4b0522c7d3e3fc0">https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kellyanne-conway-sexual-harassment_us_58920004e4b0522c7d3e3fc0</a>&nbsp;</div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-62776574461671509692017-10-20T19:50:00.002-07:002017-10-20T19:50:45.933-07:00Bigotry<div class="MsoNormal">Excuse me for trying to simplify things - Einstein did say it was a virtue to make things as simple as possible but no simpler. I suspect that the issue of racism, or racism or white nationalism, bias, and bigotry, etc. is being over-analyzed. It is likely that natural selection has selected a trait in humans that leads to tribalism (which benefited tribes and therefore assisted the survival of those tribal members) and it is a powerful trait in some of us and less so in others. This trait also does not have to be based on skin color, but could be based on other physical attributes, gender or even non-physical belief systems. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I remember watching a documentary on TV about a fellow (African in ethnicity but light skinned and who could pass for white) who could get brown-eyed people all worked up against blue-eyed persons in his seminars in a matter of minutes. The audiences did not seem to realize they were being manipulated to be against the blue-eyed people. They were ready to persecute the blue eyed people even though their own "ethnicity" varied from European, African to Asian, etc.. They united against the "blue eyes." It was easy.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here is my point; us humans are often largely irrational. We are largely idiots. We are subject to impulses that may have been useful in some way in the past in order to survive but are useful no longer. &nbsp;Once upon a time, if an individual’s “tribe” was more likely to survive, the individual was more likely to survive as well.&nbsp; We therefore became tribal in behavior.&nbsp; We began to be biased towards the traits of those in our "tribe."&nbsp; &nbsp;Now, however, the world has shrunk – we are pretty much now all in the same tribe.&nbsp; Tribal behavior can be dangerous in this world.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">The struggle is to behave rationally and with concern for others. This is no easy thing. We often fail. It could be anyone one of us at one time or another. We need to continually question our beliefs and behaviors to make sure they are rational and compassionate.<o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-36936571285218979352017-10-20T19:42:00.001-07:002017-10-20T19:42:36.603-07:00Charlottesville again<div class="MsoNormal">Written October 8, 2017 in Facebook <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There was another march in Charlottesville by White Nationalists last night. Here are two observations:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">1) There was no Antifa or other organized militant counter demonstrators. As a result, the only thing there is to talk about is how idiotic, disgusting and awful the White Nationalists were, in my opinion. This is a good thing. The White Nationalists want nothing more than some unhinged counter protesters to be there and look bad. That is the only way they can look good.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">2) Instead of mentioning how awful the White Nationalists were, the so-called President tweeted the following after sending VP Mike Pence to a NFL football game, who promptly left after some payers knelt during the National Anthem, the next day: "I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes, the so-called President ignores the White Nationalist march but calls out the football players for putting the spotlight on unequal treatment of minorities by law enforcement. We understand, but unfortunately, so does his base.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/richard-spencer-and-white-supremacists-return-to-charlottesville-chanting-you-will-not-replace-us?source=facebook&amp;via=desktop">https://www.thedailybeast.com/richard-spencer-and-white-supremacists-return-to-charlottesville-chanting-you-will-not-replace-us?source=facebook&amp;via=desktop</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-16341526340118022652017-10-20T19:39:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:39:28.415-07:00Who shall we be cruel to today?<div class="MsoNormal">It seems as though, day by day, the current administration is finding new ways to be cruel to "outsiders." Minorities, Hispanics, Muslims, women, and of course, the current favorite whipping horse and those least likely to cause harm to others - transgender Americans. There is no reason to make their lives demonstrably worse except for petty revenge and viciousness. Revenge against whom? The answer, of course, is revenge against those who simply oppose the so-called President and the method of revenge is simply to do whatever will cause them pain or pain to those they support - in this case transgender Americans.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What good will the removal of protections against discrimination for transgender persons do for anyone? It will do zero good for anyone but except for those with ignorant hate in their hearts and much harm to a group of people who struggle every day with their sexual identity through no fault of their own. For the so-called President, the misery this will cause is no problem.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-anti-bias-law-does-not-protect-transgender-workers-justice-dept/ar-AAsXqkZ?ocid=sf">https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-anti-bias-law-does-not-protect-transgender-workers-justice-dept/ar-AAsXqkZ?ocid=sf</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-36494172972077250092017-10-20T19:35:00.002-07:002017-10-20T19:35:46.376-07:00Kill the gays - U.S. says maybe<div class="MsoNormal">The U.S. joined Saudi Arabia in voting <b>AGAINST </b>a UN resolution condemning the death penalty for gay sex, blasphemy, adultery and other taboos. Of course, although, for example, adultery is not a particularly admirable behavior, the penalties are more likely to be imposed against women or other targeted individuals. Of course blasphemy is aimed at believers of the non-preferred religions or non-believers and is not a moral wrong in any way. EVERYONE is a blasphemer in the eyes of someone else after all. As far as death for gay sex - is this a crumb thrown to the likes of supporters of Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-gay-sex-death-penalty-un-same-sex-relations-human-rights-council-saudi-arabia-iraq-nikki-haley-a7980981.html">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-gay-sex-death-penalty-un-same-sex-relations-human-rights-council-saudi-arabia-iraq-nikki-haley-a7980981.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-26236172778774350282017-10-20T19:32:00.001-07:002017-10-20T19:32:23.515-07:00The Yemen raid<div class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the endless investigations Republicans would be having if Obama was President and Hillary Clinton was still Sec. of State?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This is far more egregious than Benghazi; a Navy Seal died, 10 children as well, and it was instigated in order to make the so-called President look bolder than Obama. Even after the U.S. realized that the element of surprise was lost and secrecy had been compromised, they decided to continue the mission. A complete disgrace. In one month the so-called President managed to screw up worse than Pres. Obama or Sec. Clinton in 8 years - for no reason other than to try to make himself look good.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/how-trump-team-s-first-military-raid-went-wrong-n806246">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/how-trump-team-s-first-military-raid-went-wrong-n806246</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-87030113208573679052017-10-20T19:29:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:29:35.528-07:00The stupidity of Antifa<div class="MsoNormal">The article below contains interviews with some Antifa members. It is hard to believe that they can be this stupid. One of the main objections to fascism is their animus towards free speech. This is what an Antifa members says:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“We don’t think fascism deserves free speech,” Bonnie said. “You give a platform to fascism, they will kill you. We want to shut that down before we get killed.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, this corresponds exactly to what a fascist would DO to the free speech rights of their opponents (although they would publicly deny such an intent) and it is completely lost on this fool. Someone should tell Antifa that the First Amendment exists to protect <i>unpopular</i> speech. You cannot convict or accuse others of a crime in advance of the crime as well.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The two sides are not equivalent; Hitler, Mussolini were fascists. Almost nothing compares to them. Antifa, in a country where the police in Berkeley, for example, are NOT tools of the fascists, only get in the way of justice and in fact, give actual fascists some cover when the fascists then generalize about their opposition. The tactic that will be used by White Nationalists, the KKK, neo-Nazis and others will be to paint all their opponents as free speech haters such as Antifa. And it will work to a large degree.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thanks for nothing.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/An-Inside-Look-at-the-Antifa-Movement--448068573.html">http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/An-Inside-Look-at-the-Antifa-Movement--448068573.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-87931194179780051092017-10-20T19:25:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:25:26.941-07:00Shouldthe NFL "fire those sons of bitches"?<div class="MsoNormal">Should someone be fired if they brag about sexually assaulting women? Is it worse to kneel during the National Anthem to bring attention to the disparity of the use of force by police against minorities or to brag about sexually assaulting women?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/08/us/donald-trump-tape-transcript.html?smid=fb-share">https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/08/us/donald-trump-tape-transcript.html?smid=fb-share</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Should someone be fired if they mock a disabled person for their disability? Is it worse to kneel during the National Anthem to bring attention to the disparity of the use of force by police against minorities or to mock a disabled person for their disability?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX9reO3QnUA&amp;feature=share">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX9reO3QnUA&amp;feature=share</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Should someone be fired if they insult an American who was a prisoner of war for being captured? Is it worse to kneel during the National Anthem to bring attention to the disparity of the use of force by police against minorities or to insult an American who was a prisoner of war for being captured?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/trump-attacks-mccain-i-like-people-who-werent-captured-120317">http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/trump-attacks-mccain-i-like-people-who-werent-captured-120317</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Should someone be fired if they insult the family of an American killed in service to their country? Is it worse to kneel during the National Anthem to bring attention to the disparity of the use of force by police against minorities or to insult the family of an American killed in service to their country?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/08/02/opinion-trump-attacked-all-gold-star-families-attacking-khans.html#.Wc2aMQ5HlAs.facebook">http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/08/02/opinion-trump-attacked-all-gold-star-families-attacking-khans.html#.Wc2aMQ5HlAs.facebook</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-34374204877456190712017-10-20T19:19:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:19:11.869-07:00Do deplorables prefer "Crazy"?<div class="MsoNormal">Rep. Massie is a Republican libertarian from Kentucky. In an interview earlier this year, he reflected that voters may not have been as motivated to vote for him for his libertarianism as much as for he being the craziest SOB in the race.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If he is right, and he probably is to a degree, this would explain to some degree the victory of Roy Moore for the Republican nomination for the Senate in Alabama who, without a doubt, would be the craziest SOB in all of Congress and that is saying a lot. This also says all quite a bit about certain voters - if this is true. In some circles, insanity is favored over sanity. This is not a joke. In Alabama, Republicans have nominated a person who just may favor executing gays, stoning women who are not virgins when they get married and who believes government should enforce Christianity.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">(Go to <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41417203">http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41417203</a>&nbsp;or <a href="http://time.com/4953360/alabama-senate-race-roy-moore-quotes/">http://time.com/4953360/alabama-senate-race-roy-moore-quotes/</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And the so-called President will support his candidacy. Is this deplorable?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/rep-massies-theory-voters-who-voted-for-libertarians-and-then-trump-were-always-just-seeking-the-craziest-son-of-a-bitch-in-the-race/article/2617438">http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/rep-massies-theory-voters-who-voted-for-libertarians-and-then-trump-were-always-just-seeking-the-craziest-son-of-a-bitch-in-the-race/article/2617438</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-45186654097122791012017-10-20T19:15:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:15:05.506-07:00Moore vs. Jones for Alabama Senator; where do YOU stand?<div class="MsoNormal">Republicans nominate Roy Moore for the senate in Alabama: the Taliban is HERE! This is not a joke. Alabama, you cannot elect this guy. The support that Steve Bannon gave him is disgraceful even for Steve Bannon. And if the so-called President supports him, it's more disgrace upon a mountain of disgrace.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">From Esquire: "And, not for nothing, but Moore’s opponent is a guy named Douglas Jones. In 2001, Jones convicted two men for the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1963, one of the iconic white supremacist terrorist acts of that period. One of those bastards already died in prison and the other keeps getting denied parole. <b>If you’d rather be represented in the Senate by a lawless theocratic lunatic, rather than a guy that finally got justice for four murdered little girls, well, you deserve anything that goddamn happens to you."</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a12484953/who-is-roy-moore/">http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a12484953/who-is-roy-moore/</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-4432394280674758062017-10-20T19:11:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:11:34.778-07:00ROY MOORE WINS REPUBLICAN SENATE NOMINATIONWritten Septemer 26,2017 inFAcebook<div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">The Republicans have nominated the closest thing to a member of the Taliban for the senate in Alabama, former Judge Roy Moore. He was NOT the candidate of the "Swamp" (also known as the Republic establishment.) No, this is the "answer" to the "Swamp" and was supported by the likes of Steve Bannon and Sarah Palin; Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell supported Moore's opponent Luther Strange, the current senator, who lost the nomination. Here is what I am trying to say: the voters of the Republican Party are even more deplorable than their leadership, which is saying a lot! Would anyone say that voting for a candidate who cannot bring himself to oppose the execution of gay persons is not deplorable?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It is DEPLORABLE to cast a vote for Judge Roy Moore. A majority of Republicans in Alabama voted for Roy Moore. You do the math.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Where does the so-called President stand on this? During the campaign for the nomination, he endorsed Luther Strange, who had been very loyal to the so-called President, maybe even perfectly loyal. But here's the amazing thing; while most other Republicans leaders will be fleeing Roy Moore, I suspect that the so-called President will embrace Roy Moore, because Roy Moore loves the so-called President. That is all the so-called President will need to know.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/09/11/senate-candidate-roy-moore-in-2015-dodged-question-about-executing-gay-people/#w2Ax3I1Ahsv0eTwk.01">http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/09/11/senate-candidate-roy-moore-in-2015-dodged-question-about-executing-gay-people/#w2Ax3I1Ahsv0eTwk.01</a><o:p></o:p></div></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-42886148826167161522017-10-20T19:06:00.003-07:002017-10-20T19:06:59.455-07:00Our politically correct so-called President<div class="MsoNormal">There are more than few supporters of the so-called President who appreciate the fact that he is not "politically correct" and believe he is a first amendment supporter. What frauds!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He tweeted: "If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag &amp; Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!"&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911904261553950720">https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/911904261553950720</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You could argue that by firing these players, the NFL would be exercising their right to free speech. Perhaps. But the point is "political correctness." The reason they would be firing and suspending players would be over a "political correctness" encouraged by the so-called President. If the players were saying "Make America Great Again" the so-called President wouldn't be tweeting.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What could be more politically correct than this? What is more chilling to free speech than the so-called President calling for people who defy his version of "political correctness" to be fired or suspended. This is the definition of political correctness. Duh.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>He is a total fraud. Sad.<o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-17348459386154793872017-10-20T19:04:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:04:11.994-07:00What would make someone "deplorable"?<div class="MsoNormal">Written August 22, 2017 in Facebook</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A lot of people take exception to candidate Hillary Clinton's description of many of the so-called President's supporters are "deplorable." As a political tactic, it was a mistake. As far as accuracy, I present the following.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In Alabama, two Republicans are fighting for the nomination to run for the U.S. Senate, and since this is a very "red" state, the winner of the nomination is very likely to win the election. What is interesting is that BOTH candidates are ardent supporters of the so-called President. THEY ARE ARGUING BETWEEN EACH OTHER ABOUT WHO SUPPORTS THE PRESIDENT THE MOST. The candidate that the so-called President did NOT endorse, Roy Moore, however, is something akin to the American Taliban, and the Taliban are almost, but not quite, owed an apology for this comparison. Yet, the American pseudo Talibaner is ahead in the polls.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Why? He appeals to the most "deplorable" instincts in Alabama's Republican voters apparently. Is this right?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">From Huffington Post: "In February, several months after being suspended from court for defying federal orders on same-sex marriage, Moore appeared on the radio show of a pastor who has claimed the Bible calls for the death penalty for gay people. He’d appeared on pastor Kevin Swanson’s program several times over the years, and there was a clear affinity between the men who believe they are two lone crusaders for Christ. Moore lamented to Swanson: “Our problem today is we’re denying that there is even a God or that he has sovereignty over our country.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When the pastor asked him: “What does one do when God’s laws conflict with man’s laws?” Moore responded, “God’s laws are always superior to man’s laws.” It’s an extreme view that would put an elected judge far outside the bounds of the legal mainstream: The U.S. government relies on its judicial branch to maintain checks and balances and uphold the law of the land. But, for Moore, there’s no contradiction. The Vietnam veteran and lifelong Christian holds the view that the U.S. Constitution is a kind of extension of the Bible, and that the Founding Fathers intended their America to be a Christian nation."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here is a tidbit about a section of the American public: "23 percent of Americans still think that same-sex relationships should be illegal..." (Gallup polls) <a href="http://news.gallup.com/poll/1651/.-.-rights.aspx#!mn-topics">http://news.gallup.com/poll/1651/.-.-rights.aspx#!mn-topics</a>. Would these be more likely Clinton supporters or the supporters of the so-called President.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">To get more specific, here are some facts about Alabama: " Public Policy Polling (PPP) revealed... that 21 percent of likely GOP voters polled in Alabama believe that interracial marriage should be illegal." <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Alabama Republican voters also thought Obama was a Muslim (45%); and evolution is fake (60%). (2012) <a href="https://www.publicpolicypolling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PPP_Release_SouthernSwing_312.pdf">https://www.publicpolicypolling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PPP_Release_SouthernSwing_312.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">American Taliban. Supporter of the President. Leading in the polls for the Republican Alabama Senate nomination. If he is elected, would those voting for him be "deplorable"?<o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/roy-moore-religion_us_59c2bd8be4b063b2531781a2?ncid=engmodushpmg00000003">https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/roy-moore-religion_us_59c2bd8be4b063b2531781a2?ncid=engmodushpmg00000003</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-32447400855369673482017-10-20T18:56:00.003-07:002017-10-20T18:56:40.514-07:00Sean Spicer at the Emmy's<div class="MsoNormal">Sean Spicer made an appearance at the Emmy's where he claimed that the Emmy's audience was the largest in history, a parallel lie to the lie he told at his first press conference after the inauguration that the so-called President's inauguration also had the largest audience in history.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">If Spicer had previously publicly apologized and started to make amends for all the many lies he told while working for the so-called President, such as by listing all his lies and explaining why they were lies, and why he told them, I could accept him joking about it at some point. But he has done none of this yet. He'd better start soon or this was just cynicism and the joke is still on him.<o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-87449990770182857982017-10-20T18:55:00.000-07:002017-10-20T18:55:15.546-07:00The so-called President in unfit to be President<div class="MsoNormal">Written September 17, 2017 in Facebook</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This is not normal behavior for a President. It is not fit behavior for a President. Is there any reason anyone should respect this President when he obviously behaves so disrespectfully towards others?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He brags about sexually assaulting women because he is a powerful man.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He spreads lies about President Obama place of birth to legitimize the first black President.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He lied about being wiretapped in Trump Tower.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He lied about seeing thousands of Muslims on roofs celebrating 9-11 to increase prejudice and anger against Muslims.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">He lied about millions of people illegally voting for his opponent to increase mistrust of democracy and legitimize himself in an election where a foreign government worked to get him elected.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He lied about most Mexican illegal immigrants being rapists and murderers to increase bigotry against Mexicans.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He called global warming a Chinese hoax to increase prejudice against the Chinese and environmentalists.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He lied about the size of his inauguration crowd to inflate his own ego.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He lied about Ted Cruz's father being a part of the assassination of JFK to help himself get elected.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He retweets racists memes such as one that claimed blacks murder whites at incredible rates then never retracts them. ( <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/23/donald-trump/trump-tweet-blacks-white-homicide-victims/">http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/23/donald-trump/trump-tweet-blacks-white-homicide-victims/</a>)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>He constantly spouts fake news (see above) then accuses the mainstream media of spreading fake news when they point this out, all for the sake of undermining the ability of Americans to know what the truth is.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">He is a lying, crazy ego-maniacal bigot. Is any of the above false? Are any of the conclusions ridiculous?<o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931947604059500643.post-2343141096670580952017-10-20T18:50:00.001-07:002017-10-20T18:50:06.732-07:00How the so-called President could lose his base<div class="MsoNormal">Written September 16, 2017 in Facebook</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have written this before: the only way that the so-called President could lose a portion of his base of support is NOT if he shoots somebody on 5th Avenue;<b> it's if he does something rational and compassionate.<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">His tentative agreement with Democrats to find a way to allow DACA kids to stay legally in the U.S. is rational and compassionate but does not change his mental unfitness. However, it does highlight that many of his supporters are disgraceful for ignoring his unfitness and embracing his very worst qualities while actually rejecting best quality - his lack of political ideology (other than serving himself.)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This, in a nutshell is the whole deal about the so-called President and his base.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN9YYFwczEE&amp;feature=share">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN9YYFwczEE&amp;feature=share</a><o:p></o:p></div>Gerry Dantonehttps://plus.google.com/111065403298021558683noreply@blogger.com0